Ismael Villegas, 21

June 30, 2011, 3:38 p.m.

Ismael Villegas, a 21-year-old Latino, was fatally shot Wednesday, June 22, in the 5800 block of South 2nd Avenue in Hyde Park, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Villegas and his girlfriend were walking in an alley about 2:20 p.m., when a man described by witnesses as a Latino in his 20s walked up, asked Villegas his gang affiliation and shot him several times, according to an LAPD news release.

After the shooting, the gunman ran to a parked car and drove away, police said. The car was described as a dark-colored sport utility vehicle with a female passenger who was between the ages of 18 to 23.

The victim was taken to a hospital but dies less than an hour after the shooting, coroner’s records show.

Anyone with information about the death of Ismael Villegas is asked to call Criminal Gang/Homicide Division, Dets. John Ferreria and Myra Kellum at (213) 485-1383. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800) 222-8477.

-- Los Angeles Times

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UPDATE provided by LAPDONLINE.ORG 07-02-11

Today, July 2, 2011, at around 4 a.m., a task force of the U.S. Marshall’s Service along with the Los Angeles Police Department Criminal Gang/Homicide Division, 77th Squad arrested 21-year-old Edward Marroquin, a male Hispanic, 21 years of age, in the city of Cudahy. Marroquin was driving a Toyota Highlander when he was taken into custody during a traffic stop. Additionally, a loaded semi-automatic handgun was recovered within the vehicle. Both the SUV and the weapon are believed to have been used in the shooting of Ismael Villegas.

On July 2, 2011, at around 11 a.m., Los Angeles Police Department Criminal Gang/Homicide Division, 77th Squad arrested the co-suspect, a female Hispanic juvenile whose name is being withheld due to her age. Both are charged with murder.

On July 5, 2011, the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney Hardcore Division for filing consideration.

— BEN GARCIA Aug. 22, 2011 at 10:59 a.m.

There seems to be no answer for this. What are people supposed to do, carry guns with them? Had Ismael been carrying he probably would have been caught by the cops, labelled a gang banger and arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. Or having a gun on your person, unlicensed, one will usually find a way use it.

What happened to using your fists to settle disputes? What kind of coward just kills someone walking down the street with their girl? Perhaps it's time to increase the punishment for gang violence, the problem is there are too many pussies out there that can't seem to put themselves in other people's shoes.

This happens all too often, that it would scare me to even leave my house or raise kids in some of these areas. I wish I had an answer, I wish there was something we could do to prevent innocent people from being gunned down.

Sure, Syscom, we can vote in different elected officials but would that have saved Ismael? Do we forgoe our freedoms and mount cameras on EVERY street corner in known gang neighborhoods? It would seem that they would just filter into neighborhoods that didn't have them. Do we increase police patrols? I would think that sometimes gang on gang killings are the least of the police's worries. This doesn't sound like one of them, but can easily be dismissed as one to someone flipping through reports.

I can't even imagine how I would continue living had this been my son.

RIP Ismael, may the Villegas family find peace and comfort through God.

— mightymike33tm3 Aug. 19, 2011 at 12:01 p.m.

The Homicide Report

Ismael Villegas, 21

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